BottledDog

Can't see that helping the situation in the slightest.

Which is why Ben Arfas injury is such a monumental kick in the knackers for Hughton and all of us this season.

Half the reason we went down was the sodding managerial merry go round. It would have to be a hell of a reason to dismiss Hughton and go through that again. If the players stopped trying and started engineering moves away then I'll start worrying, but until that unlikely scenario happens, and I can't believe it needs saying, we really need to get a grip and stick with a manager for once. During this very tough time (most of which has been due to factors well out of his control) he has my full and absolute support.

Wasn't he only manager for two seasons? One they got into the play-offs and the next they got promoted? If so that's hardly poor is it? Forest fans I know despise him, said he's very negative and a terrible man manager. He's neither negative, nor a terrible man manager. Very disappointed he has taken the post. What an arse of a day it has been.

So wait. What the hell are people banging on about about here? Whether Hughton spent 5 minutes or 3 hours 40 with the lad? Whatever. Great stuff Chris. Love the way he puts the extra mile in. Literaly.

Going to send him one as well, to what address would I send it? Direct to the club would be your best bet.

Probably not, but I do think he should have been a lot more angry & aggresively critical of the performance of the officials at the weekend. The guy was clearly seething and the club has gone down the road of formally tackling the problem which should have a much greater chance of forcing a response. He did everything right in my book, can't stand seeing managers loosing it in the heat of the moment.

He did not say it was ok ffs.

'One where the tackler is aiming to get the man aswell' is already outlawed if dangerous surely? Reasonable guidelines are in place, all Calderwood and the others are saying is that there is no need to start banning hard tackles etc, just follow the current rules on a more consistant basis. This was bad challenge with a horrific outcome, the ref had the opportunity to punish him and didn't see fit, now the FA can't do diddly squat about it either. That is the key issue in my mind. It is a serious issue that players are not getting the protection from the referees this season despite Shearer and the gangs guffaws, but the basic rules of the game I don't feel are in need of change, just a change of attitude, and a shake up of the utterly retarded system that does not allow the FA to revisit officials decisions after the game.

In all fairness, in no way were his comments as controversial as the majority reaction makes them out to be.

Uh, where is Calderwood blaming Ben Arfa? All he is saying is that the injury was exacerbated by the positioning of the players legs, which of course it was. It was as he rightly said, 'unfortunate'. he also said he didn't want to see that sort of tackle out the game. (stupid imo) I wasn't dismissing that, but it was important to not let the 'unfortunate' part get overly misconstrued. As for the quote you highlight though, I agree that he might be better served not to get drawn into it, and like you I would do everything to stop injuries like that occuring, but how do you do it? Should sliding tackles/tackles on the ground be outlawed? Coming from his background I'd suggest that is all Calderwood is saying, that you can't blanket ban on the basis of an extreamly unfortunate incident. easy, any tackle which is deemed deliberatly dangerous should be punished.........though that is already the law isn't it. edit...if you can freeze frame it as soon as de jong lifts his left foot to go in for the ball and ask yourself if he is just trying to win the ball ? its exactly the same as the tackle from behind, it's outlawed because even if the player is going for the ball it's done in such a way as to cause damage which is exactly what happened here. So it's down to making the right decision on individual tackles, not taking that kind of takle out of the game. I'm pretty sure that Calderwood would agree with you.

Uh, where is Calderwood blaming Ben Arfa? All he is saying is that the injury was exacerbated by the positioning of the players legs, which of course it was. It was as he rightly said, 'unfortunate'. he also said he didn't want to see that sort of tackle out the game. (stupid imo) I wasn't dismissing that, but it was important to not let the 'unfortunate' part get overly misconstrued. As for the quote you highlight though, I agree that he might be better served not to get drawn into it, and like you I would do everything to stop injuries like that occuring, but how do you do it? Should sliding tackles/tackles on the ground be outlawed? Coming from his background I'd suggest that is all Calderwood is saying, that you can't blanket ban on the basis of an extreamly unfortunate incident.

where has he said this? 909 or 693 mw. Will probs be on the beebs website at some point.

Uh, where is Calderwood blaming Ben Arfa? All he is saying is that the injury was exacerbated by the positioning of the players legs, which of course it was. It was as he rightly said, 'unfortunate'.

Notice that Bellamy has come out and said we came in for him. I have to say Hughton seems to have a hell of a hitrate going for exactly the players I think we need at the time. I don't think any other manager has come close to how godamn sensible/logical this bloke is. Ok, I guess it's still early days, but it's very rare, and very very welcome.

'They should ban De Jong until Ben Arfa can play again. De Jong shouldn't be allowed to play football. His tackle was criminal. He already injured another player (Stuart Holden) last season.' - Enrique http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1317822/Nigel-Jong-banned-long-Hatem-Ben-Arfa-out.html

I'd be delighted to help show support to the lad. Absolutly gutted for him and the club.

The only slight dissapointment today. Seems to have lost the confidence to take on his man. Glad that we have him though.

Hope so, love the confidence he is playing with at the moment.

Never sure about him on the right, but did well today.

Did the vast majority right again today imho. Love the guy.

Perfect backup defender you know you can relly on. Was worried about his pace, but he put that fear to bed, was excellent today.

Fantastic signing. Well done to everyone involved.

Played well today, as did the vast majority.

What, the referee? I quite agree. No, Mike Williamson. The same Mike Williamson who has spent the majority of his career in League Two. No, Mike Williamson has stepped up remarkably well. Hope the same Mike Williamson spends the majority of his career with us in the prem.